Wausau winter season ties temperature record

WAUSAU (WAOW)—The winter season of 2011-2012 has tied for the third warmest in Wausau, Wis. since records began being kept in 1896, according to statistics released by the National Weather Service.

The average temperature from December to February was 23.6 degrees. That ties the winter of 1982-1983.

The warmest meteorological winter season ever recorded was in 1997-1998. The average temperature was 26.9 degrees, 3.3 degrees warmer than this winter.

The second warmest season was the winter of 2001-2002 when temperatures averaged 26.4 degrees.

Meteorologists define meteorological winter as the three coldest months of the year.

According to The National Weather Service office in Green Bay, Wis. temperatures were at or above the freezing mark on 48 separate days between December and February. That ties for the fifth greatest number of days where temperatures exceeded 32 degrees in a winter season.

The most was recorded during the winter of 2001-2002 when temperatures exceeded 32 degrees on 56 days.